Football season is here, and it can be easy to park on the couch in front of the TV with that favorite bag of potato chips. Guthrie County Hospital wants to make sure you don’t stay in that spot too long.

Numerous recent studies have compared sitting for long periods of time to smoking cigarettes. Guthrie County Hospital Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Carol Laughery is not surprised by the claims and explains the consequences of too little movement. “That is a true claim unfortunately, and as we move into more automation, smart phones, computers, (and) more screen time, we see an increased risk of heart disease, high blood sugar, hypertension, (and) arthritis.”

Laughery says movement is the key and suggests several ways to increase mobility. In particular, Laughery suggests finding a friend to exercise with at home or during office breaks, and going on walks over lunch breaks to curb high calorie cravings. The hospital offers several programs and groups to create healthy dieting and fitness habits. For more information contact Laughery at claughery@gcho.org.